Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) can cause lethal hemorrhagic disease in juvenile Asian elephants. A number of EEHV types and subtypes exist, where most deaths have been caused by EEHV1A and EEHV1B. EEHV4 has been attributed to two deaths, but as both diagnoses were made postmortem, EEHV4 disease has not yet been observed and recorded clinically. In this brief communication, two cases of EEHV4 infection in juvenile elephants at the Houston Zoo are described, where both cases were resolved following intensive treatment and administration of famciclovir. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction detected EEHV4 viremia that correlated with clinical signs. High levels of EEHV4 shedding from trunk wash secretions of the first viremic elephant correlated with subsequent infection of the second elephant with EEHV4. It is hoped that the observations made in these cases--and the successful treatment regimen used--will help other institutions identify and treat EEHV4 infection in the future.

The ability of prior infection from one elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) type to protect against clinical or lethal infection from others remains an important question. This report describes viremia and subsequent shedding of EEHV1B in two juvenile 4-yr-old Asian elephants within 3 wk or 2 mo following significant infections caused by the rarely seen EEHV4. High levels of EEHV1B shedding were detected in the first elephant prior to emergence of infection and viremia in the second animal. The EEHV1B virus associated with both infections was identical to the strain causing infection in two herd mates previously. High EEHV viremia correlated with leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, which was followed by leukocytosis and thrombocytosis when clinical signs started to resolve. The observations from these cases should be beneficial for helping other institutions monitor and treat elephants infected with EEHV1, the most common virus associated with lethal hemorrhagic disease.

Blood samples of 85 immature, apparently healthy, captive-reared loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were analyzed for 13 hematologic variables and total solids of 5 age groups (8, 20, 32, 44, and 56 mo old) and for 20 plasma biochemical analytes of 4 age groups (20 to 56 mo old). Each individual turtle was sampled under similar conditions during a blood collection period of 3 days. Hematologic analytes included packed cell volume, white blood cell (WBC) counts, WBC estimates, and leukocyte differentials. Biochemical analysis included albumin, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatine kinase, creatinine, gamma glutamyltransferase, globulins, glucose, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, total bilirubin, total protein, total solids, and uric acid. In due consideration of small sample size in all five age groups, the results of hematologic and biochemical analysis were used to determine ranges for these analytes and to compare values among consecutive age groups. Several significant differences in some hematologic and biochemical variables were identified and need to be considered in the interpretation of blood work of immature, growing sea turtles in human care.

A study of a laboratory population (N = 60) of immature red pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) was conducted for the purpose of characterizing hematological parameters. Median (2.5th - 97.5th percentile) values obtained by hemocytometer counts, spun packed cell volume, refractometer, and differential counts were as follows: packed cell volume 25.8 (22.0 - 32.0) %, total plasma solids 4.0 (3.4 - 4.7) gm/dl, red blood cell concentration 1.68 (1.15 - 2.94) x 10(3) microliter, white blood cell concentration 33.5 (13.6 - 52.3) x 10(3) microliter, heterophils 3.2 (0.3 - 16.8) x 10(3) microliter, non-staining granulocytes 0.4 (0.05 - 1.9) x 10(3) microliter, eosinophils 0.2 (0.1 - 0.3) x 10(3) microliter, lymphocytes 21.0 (8.2 - 35.6) x 10(3) microliter, granular lymphocytes 1.4 (0.4 - 5.6) x 10(3) microliter, and monocytes 1.2 (0.4 - 4.4) x 10(3) microliter. Blood cell measurements were taken and descriptions given of the blood cells encountered on the stained smear A modified leukocyte slide estimate formula [(avg. # leukocytes/10 HPF x 2,000) + 6,3001 (/microliter) had better agreement with Neubauer hemocytometer white cell counts than the method used for avian species.

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a ubiquitous pathogen causing disease in humans, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Since 2012, C. pneumoniae infection has caused neurologic disease and mortality in a breeding colony of endangered Houston toads ( Anaxyrus houstonensis) at the Houston Zoo. The purpose of this report is to present the histopathologic and ultrastructural characteristics of C. pneumoniae infection in Houston toads. Fourteen cases were evaluated by histopathology and 1 case was evaluated by electron microscopy. The major histopathologic finding was necrotizing and histiocytic polioencephalomyelitis and ganglionitis. Bacteria formed intracytoplasmic inclusions within neurons but frequently extended into the surrounding tissue from necrotic cells. Ultrastructural evaluation showed the bacteria formed reticulate and elementary bodies characteristic of Chlamydia spp.

No abstract

Acute toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 2 captive dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri smithi) in the Houston Zoo. Both animals became ill suddenly and died in spite of supportive therapy. Toxoplasma gondii was identified in tissues of both animals immunohistochemically, and antibodies to T. gondii were found in titers of 1:800 or more in both animals upon examination by the modified agglutination rest. The cause of death was considered to be toxoplasmic pneumonia. This is the first report of toxoplasmosis in M. g. smithi.

No abstract